The only legal handguns are centerfire revolvers or centerfire single-shot
handguns of .30 caliber or larger with a minimum barrel length of 4 inches.
It shall be unlawful to take or attempt to take white-tailed deer by the
use of semi-automatic handguns, muzzleloading handguns, or handguns
altered to allow for shoulder firing.
The only legal ammunition for a centerfire handgun is (1) a bottleneck
centerfire cartridge of .30 caliber or larger with a case length not exceeding
1.4 inches, or (2) a straightwalled centerfire cartridge of .30 caliber
or larger, with no minimum case length; both of which must be available
with the published ballistic tables of the manufacturer showing a capability
of at least 500 foot pounds of energy at the muzzle.

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sumpnz

September 17, 2008, 12:23 AM

IANAL, nor am I familiar with IL regulations and laws, but my guess is that they likely prohibit hunting with rifles in most areas and they are considering a pistol with a >16" barrel to be a rifle for those purposes. Owning such a gun is not illegal in terms of Federal law. State law may be another issue, but I cannot see any logical (even by IL gun law standards) reason for why they would ban possesion of such a gun.

Marcus84

September 17, 2008, 04:32 AM

On a related note why does IL prevent people from hunting w/centerfire rifles?

NukemJim

September 17, 2008, 05:51 AM

On a related note why does IL prevent people from hunting w/centerfire rifles?

I was told it was due to the range of a centerfire rifle.

Please do not look for logic, this is Illinois law.

NukemJim

Seancass

September 17, 2008, 08:41 AM

Indiana had also outlawed rifles for deer hunting until about last year when they allowed "pistol-caliber" rifles. You couldn't find a .44Mag handi-rifle to save your life.

Maybe once upon a time some hunter took the stock off his 30-06 and took it to handgun season. *BAM* whole new book of hunting laws..

butwhat

September 17, 2008, 01:59 PM

I have been told that it is illegal to use a pistol with a barrel length of over 16"

The only legal handguns are centerfire revolvers or centerfire single-shot
handguns of .30 caliber or larger with a minimum barrel length of 4 inches.
It shall be unlawful to take or attempt to take white-tailed deer by the
use of semi-automatic handguns, muzzleloading handguns, or handguns
altered to allow for shoulder firing.
The only legal ammunition for a centerfire handgun is (1) a bottleneck
centerfire cartridge of .30 caliber or larger with a case length not exceeding
1.4 inches, or (2) a straightwalled centerfire cartridge of .30 caliber
or larger, with no minimum case length; both of which must be available
with the published ballistic tables of the manufacturer showing a capability
of at least 500 foot pounds of energy at the muzzle.

butwhat

September 17, 2008, 02:11 PM

just spoke with Officer Sherman at the Illinois DNR and he assured me that it is legal to use a pistol with a barrel longer than 16", But I can not use a pistol for the late muzzleloader only season

HoosierQ

September 17, 2008, 02:38 PM

Right now it is still very hard to find a good pistol caliber rifle in Indiana. I have seen a few more Handi-Rifles lately but my local gun store owner tells me he can't get a Marlin .357, .44, or .45 lever gun for love or money right now. He probably has 6 45/70 Marlin Guide guns which are not legal for any game in Indiana save coyotes I suppose. On the other hand, he tells me, they can't give the pistol caliber guns away out west where the lever rifle has always been king where folks are allowed, and prefer to hunt with rifle caliber lever action rifles. Still can't hunt deer in Indiana with a 30-30.

Indiana is very flat and pretty open. In addition, deer were very scarce in Indiana at one time...extict in fact in the 1930s. Hard to believe now when there are so many deer in Indiana one sees them everywhere but the most dense urban areas. They made the centerfile rifle law to protect people in farm houses and, to some extent, the deer prior to their proliferation.

All things considered, I doubt full-fledged rifle calibers will ever be legal in Indiana.

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